Temperature prompting method and device

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a temperature prompting method and device. The method includes: acquiring a current temperature in a target container; acquiring a distance of the target container to a target terminal, which is linked to the target container; determining, according to the current temperature, a first time duration to be elapsed when a temperature in the target container changes to a predetermined target temperature; determining, according to the distance of the target container to the target terminal, a second time duration to be elapsed when the target terminal moves to a location where the target container stands; and triggering a prompt signal if the first time duration is less than or equal to the second time duration. According to the present disclosure, temperature control flexibility may be improved.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of International Application No.PCT/CN2015/071873 with an international filing date of Jan. 30, 2015,which is based upon and claims priority to Chinese Patent ApplicationNo. 201410422053.2, filed on Aug. 25, 2014, the entire contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of computer technologies,and more particularly, relates to a temperature prompting method and atemperature prompting device.

BACKGROUND

In daily life, hot water is desired under certain circumstances, forexample, when used for consumption, washing faces, and the likes,therefore, people often need to heat up the water by boiling. Generally,people boil the water by using a kettle, which typically provides afunction of generating a prompt when the water is boiling.

Under general circumstances, a process in which users boil water usingthe kettle is as follows: cold water is added to the kettle, a cover ofthe kettle is put onto the kettle, a switch is turned on, the kettlestarts to heat up the water, and the kettle triggers a prompt signal(for example, generating a sound or the like) until the water in thekettle is boiling, thus to notify the users that the water is boiling.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a temperature prompting method and atemperature prompting device. The following technical solutions areemployed.

According to a first aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, atemperature prompting method is provided. The method includes: acquiringa current temperature in a target container, acquiring a distance of thetarget container to a target terminal, which is linked to the targetcontainer; determining, according to the current temperature, a firsttime duration to be elapsed when a temperature in the target containerchanges to a predetermined target temperature; determining, according tothe distance of the target container to the target terminal, a secondtime duration to be elapsed when the target terminal moves to a locationwhere the target container stands; and triggering a prompt signal if thefirst time duration is less than or equal to the second time duration.

According to a second aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, atemperature prompting device is provided. The device includes: one ormore processors; a memory; and one or more modules stored in the memoryand being configured to be executed by the one or more processors, theone or more modules having the following functions: acquiring a currenttemperature in a target container; acquiring a distance of the targetcontainer to a target terminal, which is linked to the target container;determining, according to the current temperature, a first time durationto be elapsed when a temperature in the target container changes to apredetermined target temperature; determining, according to the distanceof the target container to the target terminal, a second time durationto be elapsed when the target terminal moves to a location where thetarget container stands; and triggering a prompt signal if the firsttime duration is less than or equal to the second time duration.

According to a third aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereininstructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a device,cause the device to perform: acquiring a current temperature in a targetcontainer; acquiring a distance of the target container to a targetterminal, which is linked to the target container; determining,according to the current temperature, a first time duration to beelapsed when a temperature in the target container changes to apredetermined target temperature; determining, according to the distanceof the target container to the target terminal, a second time durationto be elapsed when the target terminal moves to a location where thetarget container stands; and triggering a prompt signal if the firsttime duration is less than or equal to the second time duration.

It shall be appreciated that both the above general description and thedetailed description hereinafter are only illustrative andinterpretative, but not for limiting the present disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings herein, which are incorporated into andconstitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodimentsconsistent with the present disclosure, and together with thespecification, serve to explain the principles of the presentdisclosure. Among the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a temperature prompting methodaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system architectureaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a temperature prompting methodaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a function curve according toan exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a temperature prompting methodaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a temperature prompting methodaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram illustrating a temperatureprompting apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram illustrating a server accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

The above drawings are used for illustrating the specific embodiments ofthe present disclosure, and more details will be given hereinafter.These drawings and textual descriptions are not intended to limit thescope defined in the present disclosure in any way, but intended todescribe the inventive concept of the present disclosure throughspecific embodiments for a person skilled in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examplesof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The followingdescription refers to accompanying drawings in which the same numbers indifferent drawings represent the same or similar elements unlessotherwise represented. The implementations set forth in the followingexemplary embodiments do not represent all implementations consistentwith the present disclosure. Instead, they are merely examples ofapparatuses and methods consistent with aspects related to the presentdisclosure as recited in the appended claims.

First Embodiment

According to a first aspect of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, a temperature promoting method is provided. As illustratedin FIG. 1, a execution body of the temperature control method (in otherwords, a temperature promoting device) may be a server, a router, aterminal or a smart container; wherein the smart container may be asmart kettle, a smart cup or the like, the terminal may be a mobileterminal such as a mobile phone, a smart band or the like, and theserver may be a background server of an application for temperaturecontrol.

In this embodiment, the technical solution is described in detail with ascenario where a user boils water as an example. The execution body is,for example, a server, and the substance to be heated in the containeris, for example, water. Cases for other scenarios, devices, andsubstances to be heated are similar, which are not described herein anyfurther. A system architecture diagram according to the embodiments ofthe present disclosure may be illustrated in FIG. 2, including: a targetcontainer, a target terminal, and a server. As illustrated in FIG. 1,the process of the method may include the following steps.

In step 101, a current temperature in a target container is acquired,and a distance of the target container to a target terminal, which islinked to the target container is acquired.

In this embodiment, a binding relation between a target container and atarget terminal may be established in a server, and such bindingrelation may be established in a plurality of manners. When there is abinding relation between a container and a terminal, it also means thatthe container is linked to the terminal, or alternatively, the terminalis linked to the container. An application for temperature control maybe respectively installed in the target container and the targetterminal. The user may start the application over a terminal or the liketo log in to the server; and the server may bind a smart container to atarget terminal that has the same account with the smart container, andrecord the binding relation between them. For example, after the userstarts an application over a mobile phone and then logs in to the servervia account A, the server detects that a smart container also logs in tothe server via account A, then the server binds the mobile phone to thesmart container.

Alternatively, the user may send a request to the server via anapplication in the terminal, requesting the server to bind a targetcontainer to a target terminal. In this case, the server maycorrespondingly store the device identifier of the smart container andthe device identifier of the target terminal to record a bindingrelation between them. For example, after the user starts an applicationover a mobile phone, a binding relation is established between a smartkettle and a smart band, and this binding relation is notified to theserver.

When the user desires the water reaching a certain temperature (forexample, 70° C.), the user may set this temperature on the smartcontainer (i.e., the target container) as the target temperature forheating, and turn on the heating switch of the target container; andthen the target container starts heating the water. The target containermay be equipped with a temperature sensor, and the temperature sensormay acquire the temperature of the water in the target container. Whenthe user sets a target temperature and turns on the switch of the targetcontainer, the target container may detect the temperature of the waterin the target container via the temperature sensor, and periodicallysend the detected temperature to the server. As such, the server iscapable of acquiring the temperature in the target container.

A positioning apparatus may be respectively installed on the targetcontainer and the target terminal, and the positioning apparatus mayacquire location information of the target container or the targetterminal. Upon receiving the temperature of the water sent by the targetcontainer, the server may firstly determine a terminal (i.e., the targetterminal) which is linked to the target container. For example, theserver may acquire an account via which the target container logs in tothe server, and thus query the terminal that logs in to the server viathe account. When a smart band is found to log in to the server via theaccount, the smart band is the queried target terminal. Subsequently,the server may separately send a location query request to the targetcontainer and the target terminal. Upon receiving the location queryrequest, the target container and the target terminal may periodicallyacquire their location information respectively via the positioningapparatus, and respectively send the acquired location information tothe server. Herein, the period of acquiring and sending the locationinformation may be the same as that of sending the temperature value.The server may calculate a distance from the target container to thetarget terminal according to the received location information of thetarget container and the target terminal.

In step 102, a first time duration to be elapsed when the temperature inthe target container changes to a predetermined target temperature isdetermined according to the current temperature.

In this embodiment, the server may predetermine a heating speed. Uponreceiving a current temperature sent by the target container, the servermay acquire a target temperature predetermined by the user, i.e., atarget temperature uploaded by the target container, and thus the servermay calculate a difference between the target temperature and thecurrent temperature, and divide the difference by the predeterminedheating speed. The obtained quotient is a time duration (i.e., the firsttime duration) to be elapsed when the temperature of the water in thetarget container changes to the target temperature.

It should be noted that step 102 and step 103 are not necessarilysubjected to a time sequential relation.

In step 103, a second time duration to be elapsed when the targetterminal moves to a location where the target container stands isdetermined according to the distance of the target container to thetarget terminal.

In this embodiment, the server may predetermine a movement speed of thetarget terminal, and the movement speed may be obtained based onstatistics of general movement speeds of ordinary persons. Uponreceiving the location information of the target container and thetarget terminal, the server may calculate the distance of the targetcontainer to the target terminal, and then divide the distance by thepredetermined movement speed. The obtained quotient is a time duration(i.e., the second time duration) to be elapsed when the target terminalmoves to a location where the target container stands. This timeduration may be considered as a time duration to be elapsed when theuser wearing the smart band (i.e., the target terminal) moves to thesmart kettle (i.e., the target container).

In step 104, a prompt signal is triggered if the first time duration isless than or equal to the second time duration.

In this embodiment, upon determining the first time duration and thesecond time duration, the server may compare the first time durationwith the second time duration. If the first time duration is less thanor equal to the second time duration, it indicates that if the user nowstarts to move towards the target container and when the user reachesthe target container, the temperature in the target container hasreached the predetermined target temperature. Under such circumstance,the server may trigger the target container and/or the target terminalto emit a prompt signal to prompt the user. If the first time durationis greater than the second time duration, it indicates that if the usernow starts to move towards the target container and when the userreaches the target container, the temperature in the target containerhas not reached the predetermined target temperature. Under suchcircumstance, the server may perform no operation, i.e., may not triggera prompt signal. Under the above circumstance where a prompt signal issent, the user may move towards the target container upon receipt of theprompt signal. During the movement of the user, the target containerremains heating the water. When it is detected via the temperaturesensor that the temperature of the water in the target container hasreached the target temperature, the target container stops heating thewater. Based on the above calculation process of the server, it can beknown that when the user approaches the target container, the targetcontainer may have stopped heating the water or just stop heating thewater.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a current temperature in atarget container is acquired, and a distance of the target container toa target terminal, which is linked to the target container is acquired;a first time duration to be elapsed when the temperature in the targetcontainer changes to a predetermined target temperature is determinedaccording to the current temperature; a second time duration to beelapsed when the target terminal moves to a location where the targetcontainer stands is determined according to the distance of the targetcontainer to the target terminal; and a prompt signal is triggered ifthe first time duration is less than or equal to the second timeduration. In this way, any predetermined target temperature may beprompted, such that the temperature in the container may be controlledat any target temperature, thereby improving flexibility in temperaturecontrol.

Second Embodiment

According to a second aspect of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, a temperature promoting method is provided. The executionbody of the temperature control method may be a server, a router, aterminal, or a smart container. The smart container may be a smartkettle, a smart cup or the like. The terminal may be a mobile terminalsuch as a mobile phone, a smart band or the like. The server may be abackground server of an application for temperature control.

In this embodiment, the technical solution is described in detail with ascenario where a user boils water as an example. The execution body is,for example, a server. The substance to be heated in the container is,for example, water. Cases for other scenarios, devices, and substancesto be heated are similar, which are not described herein any further. Asystem architecture according to an embodiment of the present disclosuremay be illustrated in FIG. 2, including: a target container, a targetterminal, and a server. The process is described in detail withreference to an exemplary embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 3, theprocess of the method may include the following steps.

In step 301, a current temperature in a target container is acquired.

The target container is equipped with a temperature measuring device.However, the specific position for installing the temperature measuringdevice is not limited. For example, the temperature measuring device maybe installed on an inner wall, a bottom or the like of the targetcontainer.

For example, when the user desires the water reaching a certaintemperature (for example, 70° C.), the user may set this temperature onthe smart container (i.e., the target container) as the targettemperature for heating via a corresponding application on a mobilephone, and turn on the heating switch of the target container; and thenthe target container starts heating the water. The target container maybe equipped with a temperature sensor, and the temperature sensor mayacquire the temperature of the water in the target container. When theuser sets a target temperature and turns on the switch of the targetcontainer, the target container may detect the temperature of the waterin the target container via the temperature sensor, and periodicallysend the detected temperature to the server. As such, the server iscapable of acquiring the temperature in the target container.

In step 302, a distance of the target container to a target terminal,which is linked to the target container is acquired if a differencebetween the current temperature and a predetermined target temperatureis less than a predetermined threshold.

In this embodiment, the target container may acquire a temperature ofthe water in the target container via the temperature sensor, andperiodically send the acquired temperature value to the server. Uponreceiving the temperature value sent by the target container, the servermay calculate a difference between the temperature and the targettemperature, and compare the difference with a predetermined threshold(for example, 20° C.). If the difference is less than the predeterminedthreshold, the server may request location information of the targetcontainer and location information of the target terminal, and calculatea distance therebetween. Otherwise, the server may perform no operation.

In step 303, a first time duration to be elapsed when the temperature inthe target container changes to a predetermined target temperature isdetermined according to the current temperature and a prestored functionof temperature with respect to time.

The function of temperature with respect to time may be a functionreflecting changes of the temperature with the heating time.

In this embodiment, the server may prestore the function of temperaturewith respect to time of the water, and the function of temperature withrespect to time may be obtained via analysis and calculation based on alarge amount of experimental data. The corresponding function curve maybe as illustrated in FIG. 4. When the server acquires the currenttemperature in the target container, the current temperature may beintroduced into the function of temperature with respect to time, andthus a first time (t₁ in FIG. 4) corresponding to the currenttemperature (i.e., T₁ in FIG. 4) in the target container is determined.The server may further introduce the target temperature into atemperature change relation function, and thus a second time (i.e., t₂in FIG. 4) corresponding to the target temperature (i.e., T₂ in FIG. 4)is determined. Hence, a difference between t₁ and t₂ may be calculated.The difference is the first time duration to be elapsed when the currenttemperature in the target container changes to the predetermined targettemperature. Optionally, the function of temperature with respect totime may further include a variant of the ambient temperature, and thetarget container may further acquire an ambient temperature and reportthe acquired ambient temperature to the server. The server may obtainthe first time duration in a calculation manner similar to the abovedescribed one based on the ambient temperature, the target temperature,and the current temperature in the target container. In addition,optionally, in the function of temperature with respect to time,variants of the heating power and the volume may be further set. Thetarget container may further report its heating power and its watervolume to the server. The server may obtain the first time duration in acalculation method similar to the above described one based on theambient temperature, the target temperature, the current temperature,the heating power, and the volume.

In step 304, a movement speed of the target terminal is acquiredaccording to historic movements of the target terminal.

In this embodiment, the server may detect, via the target terminal,motion states of a user holding the target terminal and movement speedsin different motion states. For example, the server may detect anaverage movement speed of the user in a walking state. Under a generalcircumstance, the user moves to a location where the target containerstands by walking, and therefore, the server may acquire an averagemovement speed of the user in the walking state according to historicmovements from the target terminal, and record the average movementspeed for subsequent processing. For example, the server sends a speedacquisition request to the smart band, and in response to the request,the smart band sends the average movement speed of the user in thewalking state according to historic movements to the server.

In step 305, a second time duration to be elapsed when the targetterminal moves to a location where the target container stands isdetermined according to the distance of the target container to thetarget terminal and the movement speed.

In this embodiment, the server may divide the value of the distance fromthe target container to the target terminal by the acquired movementspeed, and the obtained quotient is a time duration to be elapsed whenthe target terminal moves to a location where the target containerstands. This time duration may be considered as a time duration to beelapsed when the user wearing the smart band (i.e., the target terminal)moves to the smart kettle (i.e., the target container).

In step 306, a prompt signal is triggered if the first time duration isless than or equal to the second time duration.

A variety of manners are available for triggering a prompt signal.Different manners may be separately used or collaboratively used. Twoapplicable manners are listed as below.

Manner 1: If the first time duration is less than or equal to the secondtime duration, a prompt notification is sent to the target terminal,such that the target terminal emits a prompt signal.

In this embodiment, if the first time duration is less than or equal tothe second time duration, the server may send a prompt notification tothe target terminal. Upon receiving the prompt notification sent by theserver, the target terminal may emit a prompt signal to prompt the user.The target terminal may emit the prompt signal in a plurality of forms,for example, a ring tone, a vibration, a flash, or the like. The targetterminal may set one of the above forms as the default form of theprompt signal. In addition, the user may set the form of the promptsignal according to such factors as user's preferences, favorites,needs, and the like. For example, if the first time duration is lessthan or equal to the second time duration, the server may send a promptnotification to the smart band. Upon receiving the prompt notificationsent by the server, the smart band may prompt, in the form of vibration,the user that the water is boiling.

Manner 2: If the first time duration is less than or equal to the secondtime duration, a prompt notification is sent to the target container,such that the target container emits a prompt signal.

In this embodiment, if the first time duration is less than or equal tothe second time duration, the server may send a prompt notification tothe target container. Upon receiving the prompt notification sent by theserver, the target container may emit a prompt signal to prompt theuser. The target container may emit the prompt signal in a plurality offorms, for example, a ring tone, a vibration, a flash, or the like. Thetarget container may set one of the above forms as the default form ofthe prompt signal. In addition, the user may set the form of the promptsignal according to such factors as user's preferences, favorites,needs, and the like. For example, if the first time duration is lessthan or equal to the second time duration, the server may send a promptnotification to the smart kettle. Upon receiving the prompt notificationsent by the server, the smart kettle may prompt, in the form of ringtone, the user that the water is boiling.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a current temperature in atarget container is acquired, and a distance of the target container toa target terminal, which is linked to the target container is acquired;a first time duration to be elapsed when the temperature in the targetcontainer changes to a predetermined target temperature is determinedaccording to the current temperature; a second time duration to beelapsed when the target terminal moves to a location where the targetcontainer stands is determined according to the distance of the targetcontainer to the target terminal; and a prompt signal is triggered ifthe first time duration is less than or equal to the second timeduration. In this way, any predetermined target temperature may beprompted, such that the temperature in the container may be controlledat any target temperature, thereby improving flexibility in temperaturecontrol.

Third Embodiment

According to a third aspect of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, a temperature prompting method is provided. The technicalsolution is hereinafter described in detail using the scenario where theexecution body is a router as an example with reference to the scenariowhere a user boils water. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the process mayinclude the following steps.

In step 501, a router acquires a current temperature in a targetcontainer.

In this embodiment, the target container is equipped with a temperaturemeasuring device. However, the specific position for installing thetemperature measuring device is not limited. For example, thetemperature measuring device may be installed on an inner wall, a bottomor the like of the target container.

For example, when the user desires the water reaching a certaintemperature (for example, 70° C.), the user may set this temperature onthe smart container (i.e., the target container) as the targettemperature for heating via a corresponding application over a mobilephone, and turn on the heating switch of the target container; and thenthe target container starts heating the water. The target container maybe equipped with a temperature sensor, and the temperature sensor mayacquire the temperature of the water in the target container. When theuser sets a target temperature and turns on the switch of the targetcontainer, the target container may detect the temperature of the waterin the target container via the temperature sensor, and periodicallysend the detected temperature to the router. As such, the router iscapable of acquiring the temperature in the target container.

In step 502, the router determines, according to the currenttemperature, a first time duration to be elapsed when the temperature inthe target container changes to a predetermined target temperature.

The manner in which the router determines the first time duration issimilar to the manner in which the first time duration is determined instep 102. The details may be referred to the related content in theabove embodiments, which are not described herein any further.

In step 503, the router determines a target terminal linked to thetarget container, and determines a second time duration to be elapsedwhen the target terminal moves to a location where the target containerstands.

In this embodiment, a binding relation between a target container and atarget terminal may be established in a router, and such bindingrelation may be established in a plurality of manners. An applicationfor temperature control may be respectively installed in the targetcontainer and the target terminal. The user may start the applicationover a terminal or the like to log in to the router; and the router maybind a smart container to a target terminal that has the same account tothe smart container, and record the binding relation between them. Forexample, after the user starts an application over a mobile phone andthen logs in to the router via account A, the router detects that asmart container also logs in to the router via account A, and then therouter binds the mobile phone to the smart container.

Alternatively, the user may send a request to the router via anapplication in the terminal, requesting the router to bind a targetcontainer to a target terminal. In this case, the router maycorrespondingly store the device identifier of the smart container andthe device identifier of the target terminal to record a bindingrelation between them. For example, after the user starts an applicationover a mobile phone, a binding relation is established between a smartkettle and a smart band, and this binding relation is notified to therouter.

In step 504, a prompt signal is triggered if the first time duration isless than or equal to the second time duration.

A variety of manners are available for triggering a prompt signal.Different manners may be separately used or collaboratively used. Twoavailable manners are listed as below.

Manner 1: If the first time duration is less than or equal to the secondtime duration, the router sends a prompt notification to the targetterminal, such that the target terminal emits a prompt signal.

Manner 2: If the first time duration is less than or equal to the secondtime duration, the router sends a prompt notification to the targetcontainer, such that the target container emits a prompt signal.

The above two manners are similar to the manner described in step 306,related content in the above embodiments may be referenced, which is notdescribed herein any further.

In step 502, the first time duration may be determined in the followingmanner: the first time duration to be elapsed when the temperature inthe target container changes to a predetermined target temperature isdetermined according to the current temperature and a prestored functionof temperature with respect to time.

The manner in which the router determines the first time duration issimilar to the manner in which the first time duration is determined instep 303. The details may be referred to the related content in theabove embodiments, which are not described herein any further.

In step 503, the second time duration may be determined in the followingmanner: if a difference between the current temperature and thepredetermined target temperature is less than a predetermined threshold,acquiring a distance of the target container to a target terminal, whichis linked to the target container, acquiring a movement speed of thetarget terminal according to historic movements, and determining,according to the distance of the target container to the target terminaland the movement speed, a second time duration to be elapsed when thetarget terminal moves to a location where the target container stands.

The manner in which the router determines the second time duration issimilar to the manner in which the second time duration is determined instep 305. The details may be referred to the related content in theabove embodiments, which are not described herein any further.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a current temperature in atarget container is acquired, and a distance of the target container toa target terminal, which is linked to the target container is acquired;a first time duration to be elapsed when the temperature in the targetcontainer changes to a predetermined target temperature is determinedaccording to the current temperature; a second time duration to beelapsed when the target terminal moves to a location where the targetcontainer stands is determined according to the distance of the targetcontainer to the target terminal; and a prompt signal is triggered ifthe first time duration is less than or equal to the second timeduration. In this way, any predetermined target temperature may beprompted, such that the temperature in the container may be controlledat any target temperature, thereby improving flexibility in temperaturecontrol.

Fourth Embodiment

According to a fourth aspect of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, a temperature prompting method is provided. The technicalsolution is hereinafter described in detail using the scenario where theexecution body is a smart kettle as an example with reference to thescenario where a user boils water. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the processmay include the following steps.

In step 601, a smart kettle (i.e., a target container) acquires acurrent temperature of the water contained therein.

In this embodiment, the smart kettle is equipped with a temperaturemeasuring device. However, the specific position for installing thetemperature measuring device is not limited. For example, thetemperature measuring device may be installed on an inner wall, a bottomor the like of the smart kettle.

For example, when the user desires the water reaching a certaintemperature (for example, 70° C.), the user may set this temperature onthe smart kettle via a corresponding application over a mobile phone asa target temperature for heating, and turn on the heating switch of thesmart kettle; and then the smart kettle starts heating the water. Thesmart kettle may be equipped with a temperature sensor, and thetemperature sensor may acquire a temperature of the water in the smartkettle. When the user sets the target temperature and turns on theswitch of the smart kettle, the smart kettle may detect the temperatureof the water in the smart kettle via the temperature sensor.

In step 602, the smart kettle determines a first time duration to beelapsed when the water contained therein is heated from the currenttemperature to the target temperature.

The manner in which the smart kettle determines the first time durationis similar to the manner in which the first time duration is determinedin step 303. The details may be referred to the related content in theabove embodiments, which are not described herein any further.

In step 603, if a difference between the current temperature and thepredetermined target temperature is less than a predetermined threshold,the smart kettle determines a distance from the smart kettle itself to atarget terminal linked to the smart kettle.

In this embodiment, the user may predetermine, in the smart kettle, asmart band (i.e., the target terminal) linked to the smart kettle. Thesmart kettle may acquire a temperature of the water in the smart kettlevia the temperature sensor. Upon acquiring the current temperature, thesmart kettle may calculate a difference between the temperature and thepredetermined target temperature, and compare the difference with apredetermined threshold (for example, 20° C.). If the difference is lessthan the predetermined threshold, the smart kettle may request locationinformation of the smart band linked to the smart kettle from a server,acquire location information of the smart kettle itself, and thencalculate a distance therebetween; or the smart kettle may acquire adistance between the smart kettle and the smart band bound thereto via adistance detection apparatus. If the difference is greater than thepredetermined threshold, the smart kettle performs no operation.

In step 604, the smart kettle determines a second time duration to beelapsed when the target terminal moves to the smart kettle.

The second time duration may be acquired in the following manner:acquiring a movement speed of the target terminal according to historicmovements, and determining, according to the distance from the targetterminal to the smart kettle and the movement speed, a second timeduration to be elapsed when the target terminal moves to the smartkettle.

The manner in which the smart kettle determines the second time durationis similar to the manner in steps 304 and 305. The details may bereferred to the related content in the above embodiments, which are notdescribed herein any further.

In step 605, a prompt signal is triggered if the first time duration isless than or equal to the second time duration.

A variety of manners are available for triggering a prompt signal.Different manners may be separately used or collaboratively used. Twoavailable manners are listed as below.

Manner 1: If the first time duration is less than or equal to the secondtime duration, the smart kettle sends a prompt notification to the smartband bound to the smart kettle, such that the bound smart band emits aprompt signal. For example, if the first time duration is less than orequal to the second time duration, the smart kettle may send a promptnotification to the bound smart band. Upon receiving the promptnotification sent by the smart kettle, the smart band may prompt, in theform of vibration, the user that the water is boiling.

Manner 2: The smart kettle emits a prompt signal if the first timeduration is less than or equal to the second time duration. For example,if the first time duration is less than or equal to the second timeduration, the smart kettle may prompt the user that the water is boilingin a manner of generating a ring tone.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a current temperature in atarget container is acquired, and a distance of the target container toa target terminal, which is linked to the target container is acquired;a first time duration to be elapsed when the temperature in the targetcontainer changes to a predetermined target temperature is determinedaccording to the current temperature; a second time duration to beelapsed when the target terminal moves to a location where the targetcontainer stands is determined according to the distance of the targetcontainer to the target terminal; and a prompt signal is triggered ifthe first time duration is less than or equal to the second timeduration. In this way, any predetermined target temperature may beprompted, such that the temperature in the container may be controlledat any target temperature, thereby improving flexibility in temperaturecontrol.

Fifth Embodiment

Based on the same technical concept, according to a fifth aspect of theembodiments of the present disclosure, a temperature prompting apparatusis provided. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the apparatus includes: anacquiring module 710, a first determining module 720, a seconddetermining module 730, and a triggering module 740.

The acquiring module 710 is configured to acquire a current temperaturein a target container, and acquire a distance of the target container toa target terminal, which is linked to the target container.

The first determining module 720 is configured to determine, accordingto the current temperature, a first time duration to be elapsed when thetemperature in the target container changes to a predetermined targettemperature.

The second determining module 730 is configured to determine, accordingto the distance of the target container to the target terminal, a secondtime duration to be elapsed when the target terminal moves to a locationwhere the target container stands.

The triggering module 740 is configured to trigger a prompt signal ifthe first time duration is less than or equal to the second timeduration.

Optionally, the acquiring module 710 is configured to: acquire a currenttemperature in a target container, and acquire a distance of the targetcontainer to a target terminal, which is linked to the target containerif a difference between the current temperature and a predeterminedtarget temperature is less than a predetermined threshold.

Optionally, the first determining module 720 is configured to:determine, according to the current temperature and a prestored functionof temperature with respect to time, a first time duration to be elapsedwhen the temperature in the target container changes to a predeterminedtarget temperature.

Optionally, the second determining module 730 is configured to: acquirea movement speed of the target terminal according to historic movements;and determine according to the distance of the target container to thetarget terminal and the movement speed, a second time duration to beelapsed when the target terminal moves to a location where the targetcontainer stands.

Optionally, the triggering module 740 is configured to: if the firsttime duration is less than or equal to the second time duration, send aprompt notification to the target terminal, such that the targetterminal emits a prompt signal; and/or if the first time duration isless than or equal to the second time duration, send a promptnotification to the target container, such that the target containeremits a prompt signal.

With respect to the apparatuses in the above embodiment, the specificimplementations of operations executed by various modules thereof havebeen described in detail in the embodiments illustrating the methods,which are not described herein any further.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a current temperature in atarget container is acquired, and a distance of the target container toa target terminal, which is linked to the target container is acquired;a first time duration to be elapsed when the temperature in the targetcontainer changes to a predetermined target temperature is determinedaccording to the current temperature; a second time duration to beelapsed when the target terminal moves to a location where the targetcontainer stands is determined according to the distance of the targetcontainer to the target terminal; and a prompt signal is triggered ifthe first time duration is less than or equal to the second timeduration. In this way, any predetermined target temperature may beprompted, such that the temperature in the container may be controlledat any target temperature, thereby improving flexibility in temperaturecontrol.

It should be noted that, during prompting of the temperatures by thetemperature prompting apparatuses according to the above embodiments,the apparatuses are described by only using division of the abovefunctional modules as examples. In practice, the functions may beassigned to different functional modules for implementation as required.To be specific, the internal structure of the apparatus is divided intodifferent functional modules to implement all or part of theabove-described functions. In addition, the temperature promptingapparatuses according to the above embodiments are based on the sameinventive concept as the temperature prompting methods according to theembodiments of the present disclosure. The specific implementation iselaborated in the method embodiments, which is not described herein anyfurther.

Sixth Embodiment

Referring to FIG. 8, a schematic structural diagram of a server involvedin the embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. The servermay be configured to perform the temperature prompting methods providedin the above embodiments. To be specific:

The server 800 may function differently depending on configuration orperformance, and may include at least one central processing unit (CPU)822 (for example, at least one processor), a memory 832, at least onestorage medium 830 (for example, at least one mass storage device) forstoring an application 842 or data 844. The memory 832 and the storagemedium 830 may be used for transitory storage or non-transitory storage.Programs stored in the storage medium 830 may include at least onemodule (not illustrated in the drawings), where each module may includea series of operation instructions to be executed on the server.Further, the CPU 822 may be set as communicating with the storage medium830, and executing a series of operation instructions included in thestorage medium 830 on the server 800. The server 800 may further includeat least one power supply 826, at least one wired or wireless networkinterface 850, at least one input/output interface 858, at least onekeyboard 856, and/or at least one operating system 841, for example,Windows Server™, Mac OS X™, Unix™, Linux™, FreeBSD™, and the like.Specifically, in this embodiment, the server includes a memory and atleast one program, wherein the at least one program is stored in thememory and may include at least one module. Each module may include aseries of operation instructions to be executed on the server, and isconfigured to be executed by at least one processor. The at least oneprogram includes instructions for performing the following operations:acquiring a current temperature in a target container, and acquiring adistance of the target container to a target terminal, which is linkedto the target container; determining, according to the currenttemperature, a first time duration to be elapsed when the temperature inthe target container changes to a predetermined target temperature;determining, according to the distance of the target container to thetarget terminal, a second time duration to be elapsed when the targetterminal moves to a location where the target container stands; andtriggering a prompt signal if the first time duration is less than orequal to the second time duration.

Optionally, acquiring the current temperature in the target container,and acquiring the distance of the target container to the targetterminal, which is linked to the target container includes: acquiringthe current temperature in the target container, and acquiring thedistance of the target container to the target terminal, which is linkedto the target container if a difference between the current temperatureand the predetermined target temperature is less than a predeterminedthreshold.

Optionally, determining, according to the current temperature, the firsttime duration to be elapsed when the temperature in the target containerchanges to the predetermined target temperature includes: determining,according to the current temperature and the prestored function oftemperature with respect to time, the first time duration to be elapsedwhen the temperature in the target container changes to thepredetermined target temperature.

Optionally, determining, according to the distance of the targetcontainer to the target terminal, the second time duration to be elapsedwhen the target terminal moves to a location where the target containerstands includes: acquiring a movement speed of the target terminalaccording to historic movements; and determining, according to thedistance of the target container to the target terminal and the movementspeed, the second time duration to be elapsed when the target terminalmoves to a location where the target container stands.

Optionally, triggering the prompt signal if the first time duration isless than or equal to the second time duration includes: if the firsttime duration is less than or equal to the second time duration, sendinga prompt notification to the target terminal, such that the targetterminal emits the prompt signal; and/or if the first time duration isless than or equal to the second time duration, sending a promptnotification to the target container, such that the target containeremits the prompt signal.

In the embodiments of the present disclosure, a current temperature in atarget container is acquired, and a distance of the target container toa target terminal, which is linked to the target container is acquired;a first time duration to be elapsed when the temperature in the targetcontainer changes to a predetermined target temperature is determinedaccording to the current temperature; a second time duration to beelapsed when the target terminal moves to a location where the targetcontainer stands is determined according to the distance of the targetcontainer to the target terminal; and a prompt signal is triggered ifthe first time duration is less than or equal to the second timeduration. In this way, any predetermined target temperature may beprompted, such that the temperature in the container may be controlledat any target temperature, thereby improving flexibility in temperaturecontrol.

Other embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practicedisclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations,uses, or adaptations of the present disclosure following the generalprinciples thereof and including such departures from the presentdisclosure as coming within common knowledge or customary technicalmeans in the art. It is intended that the specification and embodimentsbe considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of thepresent disclosure being indicated by the appended claims.

It will be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited to theexact construction that has been described above and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and that various modifications and changes can bemade without departing from the scope thereof. The scope of the presentdisclosure is only defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A temperature prompting method, comprising:acquiring a current temperature in a target container; acquiring adistance of the target container to a target terminal, which is linkedto the target container; determining, according to the currenttemperature, a first time duration to be elapsed when a temperature inthe target container changes to a predetermined target temperature;determining, according to the distance of the target container to thetarget terminal, a second time duration to be elapsed when the targetterminal moves to a location where the target container stands; andtriggering a prompt signal if the first time duration is less than orequal to the second time duration.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein the distance of the target container to the target terminal isacquired, if a difference between the current temperature and thepredetermined target temperature is less than a predetermined threshold.3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first time duration isdetermined according to not only the current temperature but also aprestored function of temperature with respect to time.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the second time duration is determinedaccording to not only the distance of the target container to the targetterminal but also a movement speed of the target terminal.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 4, wherein the movement speed of the target terminalis determined according to historic movements of the target terminal. 6.The method according to claim 1, wherein triggering the prompt signalcomprises: sending a prompt notification to the target terminal, suchthat the target terminal emits the prompt signal.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein triggering the prompt signal comprises:sending a prompt notification to the target container, such that thetarget container emits the prompt signal.
 8. A temperature promptingdevice, comprising: one or more processors; a memory; and one or moremodules stored in the memory and being configured to be executed by theone or more processors, the one or more modules having the followingfunctions: acquiring a current temperature in a target container;acquiring a distance of the target container to a target terminal, whichis linked to the target container; determining, according to the currenttemperature, a first time duration to be elapsed when a temperature inthe target container changes to a predetermined target temperature;determining, according to the distance of the target container to thetarget terminal, a second time duration to be elapsed when the targetterminal moves to a location where the target container stands; andtriggering a prompt signal if the first time duration is less than orequal to the second time duration.
 9. The device according to claim 8,wherein the distance of the target container to the target terminal isacquired, if a difference between the current temperature and thepredetermined target temperature is less than a predetermined threshold.10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the first time duration isdetermined according to not only the current temperature but also aprestored function of temperature with respect to time.
 11. The deviceaccording to claim 8, wherein the second time duration is determinedaccording to not only the distance of the target container to the targetterminal but also a movement speed of the target terminal.
 12. Thedevice according to claim 11, wherein the movement speed of the targetterminal is determined according to historic movements of the targetterminal.
 13. The device according to claim 8, wherein triggering theprompt signal comprises: sending a prompt notification to the targetterminal, such that the target terminal emits the prompt signal.
 14. Thedevice according to claim 8, wherein triggering the prompt signalcomprises: sending a prompt notification to the target container, suchthat the target container emits the prompt signal.
 15. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructionsthat, when executed by one or more processors of a device, cause thedevice to perform: acquiring a current temperature in a targetcontainer; acquiring a distance of the target container to a targetterminal, which is linked to the target container; determining,according to the current temperature, a first time duration to beelapsed when a temperature in the target container changes to apredetermined target temperature; determining, according to the distanceof the target container to the target terminal, a second time durationto be elapsed when the target terminal moves to a location where thetarget container stands; and triggering a prompt signal if the firsttime duration is less than or equal to the second time duration.